The fourteen letters smuggled out of Ravensbruck KL


Letter XIII, no date[1]

Dear Boys – again, come Monday. Do you imagine how that day would be nice and eagerly expected by us? In our sad life, lost in adverse cold foreignness, something simple, your heartfelt words of brotherhood compassion – encouraging words in Polish. We missed them for so long; in the past, the lost someone’s precious nearness returned after so many years. Not anymore, we felt alone and abandoned when we look at the smiling faces and your uniforms which, however, worn off and grey, remind us of good old times. They give us hope that someday they return in the glow of splendour. We appreciate so much that fate allowed us to have contact with you. We sometimes think that your kind words, expressed compassion for us, and your fulfilment of our requests might be too much. In our camp lately, several more minor incidents have taken place.

The other two of our operated friends kept in the camp hospital were operated third time[2]. The sister of the one who was executed lately – Kazanecka from Lublin – received information from home about her sister’s death (the message came back quickly). From a factory in Neubrandenburg, they sent back sick Jadwiga Zając. She has severe tuberculosis. Generally, every week they send back our friends from factories, mainly from Grüneberg, with signs of poisoning, burns, and different injuries. It shows what terrible conditions they must work in.

Dear Boys, Thank you so much for dealing with our issues. Just a tiny misunderstanding – the medallions we had sent to you and all those things made of toothbrush handles which we will send to you are for you as souvenirs. Just write to us if you like it and which one is your favourite. As far as the dealings face to face go, it seems too dangerous; that is why dealing via letters is much safer. We read them, then, after memorizing, destroy them immediately. Thank you for a list, “Dzwon,” and books – some names we learned, the list is destroyed. Colleague Jałochowski – we have friends from Chełm Lubelski at Okszowska Street. They knew the name Tad. Rachwalski. He was studying in Dąbrowa Górnicza, Cadet of Antiaircraft Artillery in Trauggutowo near Brześć as well Łukowski Włodzimierz – Włodz. Wol. As far as sending texts to the men’s camp – we copied and sent “Sonety”; now we copy “Othello” – soon we will send it. Essential issues are Communiques; the men requested them, guaranteeing security. We understand your hesitation, we have them as well, but on the other hand, it will not be easy to deny such a request. We think if that is possible, please help them in the matter. Why not do it at your convenience to make the situation more manageable for you and us simultaneously (yet separately)? What about during the holidays? Thank you for your literary works. We ask for more. Next time we will send you ours for safekeeping. Write if you accept some of our pencil sketches. Several weeks ago, we sent you our theatrical piece “Noc Wigilijna”[3]. Please make a copy of it and send us back or if you have no time, please send it back to us, and we will make a copy and send it to you.

Dear Boys, are you sure you do not need socks. If you hesitate to think that it might be a burden, please do not; it gives us pleasure and satisfaction. Please respond to it. And at the end, do you remember our request (candies – no) you must (!) fulfill it. We are sending you many heartfelt wishes and honest sisters’ greetings. Be Prepared!                                                    


[1] Written by Zofia Pociłowska at the end of October or November 1943. The probable date is based on the information in the letter that the sister of the executed (Kazanecka) received news from home that she was dead. From the list of the executed, which is attached to the letter XII, it is known that Kazanecka was executed on 28th October 1943—assuming that the camp authority recorded the execution the next day on 29th October 1943. That information about Kazanecka’s death sent to her family reached them after three days. The family immediately sent a letter to Kazanecka’s sister in Ravensbrück (if the letter went from 9 to 30 days – an average post’s delivery in 1943). The letter could arrive at the earliest on Saturday – letters were delivered only on Saturday – on 16th October 1943. Probably the correspondence did not happen so quickly, so the letter reached Kazanecka much later. The end of October or November could be the closest to establishing the date of the letter.        

[2] Assuming that the letter was written in the first half of October 1943 and that there were no operations at that time (it is evident from the attachment to the letter XII with a list of operated women as well from other sources), the author made a mistake writing that two of her friends were operated. Those operations took place on 29th September 1943. 

[3] Written by Zofia Pociłowska. The piece (written probably in 1942) was sent under the name of cadet Swiderski to the contest organized by International Red Cross in Geneva and was awarded a first place as the best literary work.